Community Benefit

There is a nice article in the Express-Times (read it here) on the value of community theatre as an anchor for a downtown.

The article features several community theatres including Insomniak here in Nazareth and now located on Main Street where the Nazareth News Agency was previously located.

The article notes that the first performance will be Biloxi Blues - you may have seen them in the Halloween Parade - and the event will be $5.00 per ticket. The new theatre will seat 70.

Community Chorus Concert

Thanks to the reader who mailed to me information on the 7th Annual Harvest Harmonies Concert by the Nazareth Area Community Chorus.

This event takes place on Sunday, November 2, 2008 at the Schoeneck Moravian Church at 3:00 p.m.

The 70 member chorus is directed by Lenna Harris with Evelyn Michaels accompanying.

There is no charge for the event which is open to the public.

NDA Supports Center for Arts

The Express-Times reports that the Nazareth Downtown Association made a contribution to the Center for the Arts from the proceeds on the Martin on Main Event this year (read the article here).

Fall Organ Recital

The Morning Call has included a Fall performance at St. John's in its events calendar (view the article here):

Organ Recital: Music of Ralph Vaughan Williams by the LV Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. St. John's Lutheran Church, 200 S. Broad St., Nazareth. 610-759-3090. Nov. 16.

More on Insomniak Theatre

The Express-Times today has an article about Insomniak Theatre's move into the Nazareth News Agency on South Main Street (read it here).

Insomniak Theatre at Nazareth News Agency

Nazareth blogger, Bernie O'Hare reports on his site, Lehigh Valley Ramblings (read it here), that the Insomniak Theatre Company will be calling the Nazareth News Agency its new home.

Bernie also addresses the fallout between Insomniak and the Nazareth Downtown Association, and as an individual who was personally involved at the time, I'm not going to at this point in time. It would only be one more side to a many sided story that at least for Insomniak seems to have worked out in the best interest of the group and the community.

I look forward to seeing what the group can bring to the community at its new location in the near future.

Best wishes to everyone involved in the troupe and future productions.

ET's Five Questions Features Insomniak Theatre

The Express-Times' Five Questions segment recently featured Nazareth's Erik Honsel regarding the Insomniak Theatre Company (read/listen to it here).

The Nazareth based troupe recently performed "Assasins" at the Lehigh Valley Charter School for the Performing Arts.

Insomniak Theatre Performance - Tonight

The Express-Times reports that Nazareth-based Insomniak Theatre will be having a performance this evening at the Charter School for the Performing Arts (read the article here).

Insomniak Theatre Summer Program

The Insomniak Theatre Summer program begins June 23 with a variety of programs from age 6 to adult.

Information on programs can be obtained at insomniaktheatre.com or by calling 484-223-6906.

Registration is encouraged prior to June 7 as classes filled to capacity last summer.

Rotary Club Art Auction

Thanks to Joe Biernat, President of the Nazareth Downtown Association, for forwarding this announcement along to the NDA volunteers, where I picked it up. I've heard from quite a few people that this is a great event and it takes place on Saturday:

Rotary Club of Nazareth Presents an Art Auction
Saturday, April 5th beginning at 6:30PM

Holy Family Club - 515 W.Mauch Chunk St. Nazareth
$15 per person or $25 per couple
Call Walter Fries for tickets at:
610-515-4008

Yuletide Carolers

The Morning Call has the following announcement:

MORAVIAN HALL SQUARE, 175 W. North St., Nazareth, will present the a capella group ''The Yuletide Carolers'' at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10 in Kortz Hall. The group has performed on Broadway, at The Metropolitan Opera House, and with various international touring companies. The event is free, but reservations are required. For reservations, call 610-746-1000 or visit http://www.moravian.com online.

A Capella at NHS

The Morning Call has an announcement regarding the Lehigh Valley A Capella Classic taking place Saturday at Nazareth High School (read it here).

Henry Family History

The Morning Call has a nice feature on the Henry family history in Sunday's paper (read it here).

The feature includes a time line and explanation of how the family made it from Lancaster to Nazareth and then to Jacobsburg and explains the role of each successive generation.

The article also notes that this coming Saturday and Sunday:

several hundred re-enactors will gather for a pre-1840 American fur trade rendezvous featuring black powder rifle shooting, tomahawk throwing, blacksmithing, open hearth cooking, Native American crafts and more. Society board member Dave Ehrig said the rendezvous is an opportunity for local residents to visit the Boulton historic site and see what life was like during the height of Henry gunmaking.

The Economy, the Arts, and the Local Community

The Lehigh Valley Arts Council includes me on their distribution list for press announcements and while many don't have a direct Nazareth connection, I do read them and forward them along to others that may be interested.

An announcement sent last week caught my attention as it related to the proposed project to convert 30 Belvidere into a community theatre. Titled, "Whose Business is the Arts? A Public Forum on the Economy, the Arts and the Community," the release noted:

$169.1 million! That's how much the Lehigh Valley's nonprofit arts industry contributes to the Lehigh Valley region annually.

This is just one of the major findings that will be revealed at the Whose Business is the Arts? Public Forum, presented by the Lehigh Valley Arts Council and Lehigh Valley Partnership. The event will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., on Tuesday, October 30, 2007, at the Lehigh County Government Center in Allentown. The forum will allow participants to examine and explore the value of the arts community in terms of its impact on the local economy, the mutual benefits for arts and business and tourism, and the enhancement of our overall quality of life.

You can view and download both the summary and Lehigh Valley report (both in PDF).

The report also explains: "The local data reveals that the Lehigh Valley’s nonprofit arts industry generates $169.11 million in economic activity annually, including:

• 6,216 full-time equivalent jobs
• $92,956,000 in resident household income
• $6.817,000 in local government tax revenues
• $11,130,000 in state government tax revenues"

The value of converting 30 Belvidere to a community theatre cannot be underestimated. The problem we face in Nazareth is how to get the job the done in a timely fashion.

Borough Council has been open to the concept, but most likely will not spend or budget significant funds for the conversion, nor will they sit for long on a vacant building when they could easily sell it.

To date they have heard from two parties interested in seeing the project through - the Nazareth Downtown Association (NDA) and the Insomniak Theatre. Both groups met with the Council's Economic Development Committee, but as independent groups, neither is 'responsible' for the project. The NDA meets on Monday and this project will be on the agenda (for disclosure purposes - I am a Board Member of NDA).

My personal hope is that a single group will be assigned, and if one can't be determined, then a task force will be created independent of any one existing group, and charged with presenting a plan complete with a business plan and milestone dates to Council at its next Workshop meeting. Council can then make a motion to support this group so long as they meet their milestones and if they fail Council can reconsider its support. I'd also like to see many organizations throughout the community submit letters of support for the project that can be delivered to Council at the time of the presentation. I like this approach because it provides the accountability that Council President Dan Chiavaroli was requesting at the last meeting.

Not many communities the size of Nazareth have such an active populace and enriching offerings. The Nazareth Community Band, Community Chorus, Concerts on the Green and at the Park, Movies at the Park, could all benefit from this project in addition to adding public theatre productions and movies. What we enjoy outdoors in the spring and summer could be brought indoors from November through March.

The opportunity with this project is tremendous, but someone or some entity will need to convert this great possibility into a reality - and soon.

Council Workshop 30 Belvidere Proposal

The Nazareth Borough Council Workshop meeting for September 27, 2007 opened with a presentation of plans related to the conversion of 30 Belvidere into a community theatre.

The plans were developed by Northampton Community College Students and ranged from $1.25 to over $3 million dollars, though the idea is not to have the borough provide funds, but instead to have the borough maintain the property while an entity raises the funds and then manages the facility.

Ken Trionfo, a professor at the Community College and a member of the Nazareth Downtown Association introduced each student presentation. The student or team of students then explained their design to Council. Each was ADA compliant, respectful of the history of the building, and met the requirements set for them. Most had from 130 to 150 seats in the main theatre, stage, backstage area, dressing rooms, cafe, entranceway, and offices.

It was explained that a part of this process included doing research and the students visited two firehouses that were converted to theatres. The Touchstone Theatre in Bethlehem and one in Fells Point, MD. It was noted that each seated 100 and was narrower than Nazareth's. Despite this each design had a side addition to meet the requirements students were given.

Trionfo noted that a very feasible option existed to get to the end in phases, with phase one being to 'gut' the 1st floor, meet code requirements, and productions could be started for as little as an investment of $50,000. This would provide a space for productions to be held that would help show the possibilities of the venue. It was also noted that the project could very likely be eligible for anchor building grant money from the state.

Councilman Herbst asked about the time frame to Gut and what would happen when phase 2 rolled around. Trionfo noted probably six months and when more extensive work came about the facility would not be able to operate and be under construction.

Council President Chiavaroli asked if there was a single organization to head up this effort? Trionfo noted he couldn't answer, but the thinking was that the Insomniak Theatre, NDA, and Borough would jointly engage.

Question arose about parking and Trionfo noted that neither theatre they visited had parking. He also noted that the NDA will be conducting a comprehensive study and it will include a parking assessment. His best guess is that we have more parking than we realize, but need to use it more efficiently.

In closing Trionfo noted that the student designs will be on display at 113 South Main Street.

Tea at Jacobsburg's Henry Homestead

The Morning Call calendar lists the following for September 16:

Sept. 16: The Jacobsburg Historical Society holds Lydia's Garden Tea, 1-5 p.m. at the 1832 John Joseph Henry House, 402 Henry Road, Nazareth, featuring violinist Laura Sabol and vocalist Sally Shutler, a fashion show, teas, performances and more. Tickets: $25 (reservations recommended). 610-759-9029.

30 Belvidere's Future?

JD Malone of the Express-Times has a blog post on a walk through that was done at the former Borough Council Building by Northampton Community College students and profs to determine the feasibility of converting the building into a community theatre (read it here).

Lehigh Valley Wine Trail's - Harvest Weekend

Came across a PR announcement for the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail, a non-profit association representing the regions wineries including Amore Vineyards and Winery (listed as being located in Nazareth).

The announcement states:

On Saturday, Sept. 8 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 9 from noon - 5 p.m., the nine wine trail members will pair their wines with products from their agricultural neighbors as part of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's 'Pennsylvania Preferred- initiative.

For more information:

To request a copy of the Wine Trail's 'A Journey in Wine- brochure, call Lehigh Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1-800-747-0561 or log onto www.lehighvalleypa.org. The brochure can also be picked up at each of the member wineries. For more information on the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail, visit www.lehighvalleywinetrail.com or call 866-870-7800. For Wine Trail photos, contact Tracey Werner at tracey@lehighvalleypa.org.

Greek Theatre at the Park

The Express-Times has two an article and overview of the upcoming Insomniak Theatre Company's Greek Theatre Festival at the Nazareth Borough Park on Saturday, July 7.

The event details are here.

A backgrounder on the Company including its founders and previous productions is here.

The Festival will run from 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. with children's activities and a children's play and then the main performance will be "Oedipus Rex" at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 for front and $5 for general seating. Call 610-762-7267 for more information.

Martin Employees Working Overtime for a Cause

This Friday night's benefit for the family of Police Chief Ruch will feature four local musical acts, that according to Chris Thomas of Magic Bean (pictured at left by NOC reader Nancy Wisser. The band was performing at the Java Lounge in the Nazareth News Agency) all have a single connection - they work at Martin Guitar and from what I have seen - they have all been putting in some long hours the past few weeks on their own time.

Not only will these individuals perform on Friday night at the Holy Family Club, but they have been working hard to sell tickets, promote, create posters, and Brian Pritchard of 9919 has been tirelessly collecting donations from local businesses for the door prizes. Everyone who buys a ticket will be entered. They include jewelry, food, and a variety of services. There will also be a raffle for a Martin Guitar - you must be present to win.

Tickets are $12 and can be purchased at the Nazareth News Agency (610-759-0820) on South Main Street in Nazareth or at the Holy Family Club (610-759-7887). The event will run from 8:00 p.m. until midnight.

As noted above the bands that will be performing all have a common thread in that members of each work at Martin Guitar and here is some more information about them:

Dave Doll is a solo artist, opening the show. He plays acoustic pop rock originals and cover songs. You can listen to a few of his songs on his MySpace page (visit it here)

Magic Bean (Chris Thomas' band - and thanks to Chris for the band background information!) is mostly Martin employees. They play originals and covers. Very classic folk rock sounding...alot of Dylan and Stones, etc.

Both 9919 and Point 0 Eight are popular bar bands in Nazareth. 9919 is Brian Pritchard’s band... Point 0 Eight is Matt Rinker, Jerry Johnson, Rhonda and Jesse Kromer, etc. For those readers who were at the Block Party last year, it was Point 0 Eight that was playing on the stage at Belvidere and Main Streets (many thanks to the band's sound and light technician who let my older daughter move some light settings as they played she absolutely loved it).

While I have no doubt there will plenty of good music and fun it is great to see people step up and do something nice for a family who has unfortunately had to endure some very difficult times over the past few years and have lost a loved one. Thanks to all of those who worked so hard, donated time, effort, and prizes, and have helped create an event that in effect says our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the Ruch family and we appreciate Chief Ruch's dedication to our community and honor his memory.

Now if you haven't already done so - get out and buy your tickets!!!